You’ve walked by it countless times, the colorful Sprout Fund mural on Smithfield Street, and wistfully wished you knew what was behind the distinguished gentlemen under the hairdryers.
Now you can know, thanks to the free regional tours offered by TourAnytime of Pittsburgh. Hosted by the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, TourAnytime offers more than 100 walking, museum and individual tours 24/7 by cell phone through one phone number, anytime your schedule allows.
And MP3 tours with photos and videos are coming soon.
“What makes us unique is we’re not just about Pittsburgh but all of southwestern PA,” says Jan Dofner of Rivers of Steel. “This allows smaller heritage sites to get into the big picture with a technology that they might not have been able to do on their own.”
TourAnytime offers an array of vivid, self-guided tours, from the Battle of Homestead to the fabulous Sprout Fund murals that inhabit the local landscape. Museums, such as the Westmoreland Museum of Modern Art and Mattress Factory, find the technology works well for them too, says Jeff Leber, vice president and chief operating officer.
“It even works for coach potatoes,” he adds.
Roaming chargers may be incurred for anyone outside of the 412 area code, but otherwise the tours are free.
“For a region known for its industry, this illustrates that our industrial and cultural heritage is of interest to people,” adds Dofner, “People want to know the stories. We’re hardworking people and we forget how interesting our region is and what we have to offer.”
To begin a tour, simply go to the TourAnytime website and follow the simple instructions. www.touranytime.org
Homestead Works
Enjoy a peaceful walk along the Monongahela River and through the Waterfront’s retail district to learn about the remaining artifacts from one of the world’s largest steel mills: the Homestead Works.
Adjacent to the Monongahela River, this site was the primary battleground between the Pinkertons and the locked-out steelworkers. For more information about the Battle of Homestead, try our Battle of Homestead Walking Tour. Directly across the river from the start of this tour are the Carrie Furnaces, a National Historic Landmark.
Battle of Homestead
Recently featured as one of the “Ten Days That Unexpectedly Changed America” on the History Channel, the 1892 Battle of Homestead walking tour provides detailed accounts of the events before, during and after the battle between the locked-out steelworkers and the Pinkertons.
This site, adjacent to the Monongahela River and across the river from the Carrie Furnaces, a National Historic Landmark, was the primary battleground between the Pinkertons and the locked-out steelworkers. This site is also a trailhead for the Great Allegheny Passage Trail (Pittsburgh to Washington, DC) so a walk or bike ride can be part of this adventure.
Tour Location
This three-mile walking tour takes place at the Waterfront development in Homestead, West Homestead, and Munhall, PA, the former site of the Homestead Works. The tour loop conveniently begins and ends at the Pump House & Water Tower, the site of the “Battle of Homestead” (located at 880 East Waterfront Drive). This site is located across the street from the US Steel Research and Technology Center.
